68. New Botanical Art Courses in Winter/Spring, 2021

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Finally, I am announcing the new courses for Winter/Spring, 2021. 

  • Botanical Drawing Fundamentals - 5 Saturdays: Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13 & 20. 
  • Advanced Drawing Project 1 and 2 - 3 Saturdays per each project. 
  • Tuesday Watercolor, Intermediate Level: 3 projects - 3 Tuesdays per each project. 
  • Saturday Pen-and-Ink 1 and 2. 
  • And the usual Monday Open Workshop.
Each course is designed to make the best use of the virtual format: Displaying detailed techniques and my drawing/painting know-how right in front of the viewer's eyes.  The demo videos are accessible by students after each class to reinforce the learning contents. Since April, my teaching methods and contents have been constantly reevaluated and improved to be effectively adapted to Zoom platform. I am very happy with the results and can't wait for offering the botanical drawing/painting classes in the new year. 


Graphite Pencil Drawing lesson examples, ©Heeyoung Kim

Drawing Fundamentals - Saturday Beginning Courses

5 Saturdays: Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13 & 20. 11 am - 2 pm (CT, USA). 

"Draw what you see!" We all agree with that. However, we have to know what to look for, and why our specimens look like that in what kind of condition/situations, etc. in order to fully understand what we see. Then we need to understand the mechanics of the tools. Now comes our artistic representation of the specimen into life. 

In this 5 weeks classes, I put essential segments of "learning how to draw botanicals" into a meaningful series from the basic tool managements through botanical facts to artistic executions. Every week's class contents are packed with basics, eye-opening tips and lots of technique demos. 

To reinforce the learning, students will be given meaningful assignments and constructive feedback. Fee: $310. Click for REGISTRATION

Class Contents: 

  • DF Week 1: Understanding tools, light, Tonal Value (Gradation), light and shadow (value system) in various forms. 
  • DF Week 2: How to draw 3 major flower types. Measuring techniques for free hand drawing - Essential plant structures for botanical artists 1- flower, spiral form. 
  • DF Week 3: Perspective and foreshortened form 1 - Flower. 
  • DF Week 4: Perspective and foreshortened form 2 - Leaf. 
  • DF Week 5: Composition and how to create a scientifically informative botanical drawing.     Essential plant structures for botanical artists 2 - leaf (shape & arrangement), stem, etc.


Advanced Drawing Project 1 and 2:

These two projects are designed to guide students to create their own artworks by using the techniques leaned from the Drawing Fundaments course, plus their own artistic choices and judgments, to push their skill further.
Drawing is a highly intelligent engagement. It is not just a simple coordination of our hand and eyes. Every sense of our body and soul is involved in making numerous decisions within a time span of one pencil stroke. That is why drawing is an ever-fascinating activity. Click for Registration

  • Project 1: Intricate Light, Form, Value & Relationship on a bunch of grapes: 3 Saturdays - April 3, 10 & 17. 11 am - 2 pm, CT, USA. Fee: $250. 
  • Project 2: Complex Composition without Chaos. 3 Saturdays - June 5, 12 & 19. 11 am - 2 pm, CT, USA. Fee: $250. 



Spring Woodland Flowers, Watercolor, ©HeeyoungKim 2020


Tuesday Watercolor Intermediate Level

In this course, I guide class participants to find specimens they are familiar with and and paint them following my structured instructions for each project. Through demos, instructions and feedback, each student will proceed with the painting along with the course. Click for Registration

  • Project 1: A Visual Documentary of a Plant: Jan. 19, 26, Feb. 9 & 16. 10 am - 1 pm, CT, USA. Learning how to document a plant’s life cycle starting with winter branches and continuing through the seasons. . Fee: $250.
  • Project 2: What Jack-in-the-Pulpit Can Teach Us about Painting: Rich colors, shiny berries, patterns… to name a few… Mar. 2, 9, 16 & 23. 10 am - 1 pm, CT, USA. Fee: $250.
  • Project 3: Spring Wildflowers in Habitat: April 13, 20, 27 & May 4. 10 am - 1 pm, CT, USA. Fee: $250.


Saturday Pen-And-Ink

Compass Plant, Pen-and-Ink, ©Heeyoung Kim 2020 

Probably, my favorite medium for botanical drawing is an old style crow quill pen nib and a few bottles of ink in vintage glass jars. At the tiny tip of the nib, there is something modern technology cannot replace. 

I have taught numerous pen-and-ink classes for many years by far. It has been a pure joy to see the students appreciate the aesthetic quality of the old style pen nib. I hope I will meet more new students who will enjoy it, too, through these two new classes. Click for Registration 

  • Pen-and-Ink 1: Basic techniques and scientific plate style, March 6, 13 & 20. 11 am - 2 pm, CT, $190. Understanding the pen nibs an ink. Lines, stipplings, and hatching/crosshatching techniques. Simple scientific plate style illustration. Lots of demos, guided homework & feedback.
  • Pen-and-Ink 2: Creative ink drawing- Woodland Understory, May 1, 15 & 22. 11 am - 2 pm, CT, $190. Using the basic techniques, students will create a fun and creative story with flora and fauna of woodland in early spring. Lots of demos, guided homework & feedback.



Common Milkweed, Pen-and-Ink, ©Heeyoung Kim 2020


A group of prairie plants, Pen-and-Ink, ©Heeyoung Kim 2020


Monday Open Workshop - Techniques & Projects

This course is the unique feature of my program suitable for aspiring botanical artists who are taking on their own projects, and/or pushing forward their career/skill level. Students work with their chosen specimens at their own paces with my suggestions and guides in various media. There are active and constructive discussion among the group, not only by me, which become an extraordinary learning opportunity. At the end, I chose technique demo parts to share with the class. After resolving issues from my suggestions and peer discussion, my students often say, "This is way I love this class!" 😀😀😀. Click for Registration

  • Classes are offered usually as a unit of 4 weeks each month. 10 am - Noon, CT, USA. Fee: $200.


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